Right now, people who don't want to get pregnant can choose from 17 birth control methods: eight prescription drugs or devices, four drugstore products, two surgeries, and three strategies that don't require any money or medication at all. That bevy of options is great, but also overwhelming. How can you choose the best one for you?

In short: you should have a conversation with your healthcare provider, as medical history plays a big role in choosing a method.

How long do you want to prevent pregnancy? If you know you don't want to get pregnant for a while, a long-acting method like an IUD can cover you for years. But if you want to conceive soon, a short-term solution like condoms might be simpler.

What have you used in the past, and how did you like it? If you tried the pill but hated having to remember it every day, maybe it's time for a lower-maintenance option. If you didn't the like side effects of hormonal birth control, maybe a drug-free method is the way to go.

What do you want your period to be like? Some methods let you have your full-on, 100% natural cycle. Others make your period lighter and less painful, and some make it disappear. "The nice thing is that we have options that can support you in whatever you want," Benfield said.

Still need a little more guidance? You can learn more about all 17 methods below. We've listed what each one is, how it works, the pros and cons, and how effective it is at preventing pregnancy.

How effective is it? 88% for people who've never given birth vaginally; 76% for people who have given birth vaginally. (Childbirth stretches the vagina and cervix, so the sponge may not fit as tightly if you've had kids, changing its effectiveness.)

Female condom

Pros: There are only two methods of birth control that offer STD protection, and this is one of them. You can also buy it at drugstores, no doctors or prescriptions required. For some people, this method also makes sex more pleasurable.

The ring

A doctor demonstrates the flexibility of the birth control ring.
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What it is: A small plastic ring you insert into the vagina that's prescribed by a doctor.

How it works: It contains two hormones — estrogen and progestin — that prevent ovulation. If there's no egg to fertilize, you don't get pregnant. You wear the ring for three weeks straight then take it out for the fourth week, when you have a period.

Pros: You don't have to worry about daily pills, and your periods may get lighter, shorter, and more regular, with less painful cramps. Using the ring also decreases the risk of uterine, ovarian, and colon cancer, and may improve acne and unwanted hair growth.

Cons: Side effects can include headache, nausea, breast tenderness, vaginal discharge/irritation, and bleeding between periods. The ring also slightly raises the risk for blood clots, stroke, and heart attack, though the risk is higher for certain people.

The patch

What it is: A prescription adhesive patch that you stick on your skin.

How it works: Estrogen and progestin prevent ovulation. You put on a new patch once a week for three weeks in a row, then go patchless for the fourth week, when you have a period.

Pros: You don't have to take daily pills, and your periods may get lighter and more regular. It also decreases the risk of uterine, ovarian, and colon cancer, and may improve acne and unwanted hair growth.

Cons: Side effects can include skin irritation, headaches, breast tenderness, and bleeding between periods. It may slightly raise the risk for blood clots, stroke, and heart attack, though the risk is higher for certain people.

The combined pill

How it works: There are two types of pills; both prevent ovulation. The combined pill contains estrogen and progestin. The progestin-only pill has only progestin. You take one pill every day.

Pros: Like the ring and the patch, the pill can make periods more tolerable and regular. It may also decreases the risk of uterine, ovarian, and colon cancer, and may improve acne and unwanted hair growth.

Cons: You have to remember to take daily pills — and with the progestin-only pill, you have to be vigilant about taking it at the same time every day. Side effects can include headaches, nausea, and breast tenderness, and bleeding between periods.

The injection

What it is: A shot given by a doctor or nurse once every three months.

How it works: The injection contains progestin, which prevents ovulation.

Pros: It can make periods lighter or make them stop. It lowers the risk of uterine cancer and ectopic pregnancy, and you don't have to worry about daily pills, weekly patches, or monthly rings.

Cons: You have to make four trips to a doctor's office every year to get the shots. Side effects can include irregular bleeding and small amount of weight gain. The shot may also cause bone loss and may increase the risk for heart disease in women with certain risk factors. Finally, once you stop taking the shot, it takes an average of 10 months to get pregnant.

The implant

How it works: The implant contains the hormone etonogestrel, which prevents ovulation. Once it's inserted, it lasts for three years, but a doctor can remove it anytime.

Pros: After insertion, you don't have to think about it. The hormones can also make periods less intense or make them go away. (PS: It's totally safe to skip periods using certain types of birth control.)

Cons: The most common side effect is irregular bleeding, but you might also experience headaches, breast pain, weight gain, nausea, or ovarian cysts. You can also have pain or an infection where the implant is inserted.

Hormonal intrauterine device (IUD)

How it works: Levonorgestrel, the hormone in IUDs, creates a barrier of thick cervical mucus that keeps sperm out of the uterus. It also keeps the uterine lining very thin, so it's less likely a fertilized egg will attach. Hormonal IUDs last three to five years, depending on the brand you choose, but a doctor can remove it anytime.

Pros: Once it's in place, you don't have to do anything. It can also make periods lighter or make them stop.

How it works: In female sterilization, the Fallopian tubes are closed off, so eggs can't travel from the ovaries into the uterus. A vasectomy is when the tubes that carry sperm are tied, cut, clipped, or sealed, so semen no longer contains sperm.

Pros: They're the only forms of permanent birth control.

Cons: That permanence can be a con if you change your mind, and both surgeries come with some risks.

How effective is it: Both male and female sterilization are more than 99% effective.